DEBATErecap2005
A recap of the past
Issues that year’s issues and our
readers’ responses
make a difference
THE BEST description Web- into effect in 2008. The law, which creates
ster’s New World Dictionary national standards for state-issued driver’s August’s Debate:
offers for the word “debate,” licenses, requires states to verify the authen- No Child Left Behind
as it applies to this publica- ticity of identification of each applicant, issue
tion, is “to consider reasons tamper-proof cards and meet other regula- tial sources. Since then, Judith Miller of The
for and against a question.” tions, at an estimated cost of several million New York Times spent 85 days in prison before
In 2005, as the list below dollars to taxpayers, according to CNN. she agreed to testify before the grand jury that
shows, readers did a lot of June’s question, “Should there be a nat- indicted I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby Jr., a key
“considering.” In May, we ional sales tax?” hit a nerve with readers, gen- source with whom Miller spoke under condi-asked if a national ID card is erating many letters and e-mails. President tions of anonymity. Miller’s case reinforces the
necessary. Later that month Bush’s federal tax reform panel was expected tenet that reporters don’t have a constitu-Congress passed the Real to recommend some sort of national sales tax. tional right to withhold information, even to
ID Act, which goes However, the panel’s report, issued November protect sources.
1, listed several reasons opposing the idea Readers can now respond to our Debate
September’s Debate: unless it was accompanied by a way to ease questions online by going to costco.com and
Journalists’ the overall tax burden on lower- and middle- clicking on “Costco Connection.” Stay tuned as
confidentiality income Americans. we continue to consider questions that touch
In September, we asked if journalists everything from social conscience to our
should have a right to protect confiden- pocketbooks.—Will Fifield
DEBATE RESPONSES 2005
Here are the issues we looked at last year
JANUARY JUNE OCTOBER
Do tax cuts benefit the economy? Should there be a national sales tax? Is the new bankruptcy law fair?
YES Dr. Terry Paulson, YES John Linder, YES Mallory Duncan,
author and psychologist Georgia state representative National Retail Federation
NO Sandy Botkin, author and lawyer NO William Gale, Tax Policy Center NO Jill Miller, Women Work
Member response YES 76% NO 24% Member response YES 44% NO 56% Member response YES 51% NO 49%
FEBRUARY JULY NOVEMBER
Is the practice of tipping outdated? Should passports be required in Should Supreme Court justices
YES Dr. Arthur Dobrin, author order to cross U.S. borders? have life tenure?
NO Mark Brenner, psychologist YES Sheila Jackson-Lee, YES Leanne Capps Medford, lawyer
Member response YES 59% NO 41% Department of Homeland Security NO Richard Davis,
MARCH
NO Jeffrey Miller, attorney professor of political science
Member response YES 81% NO 19% Member response YES 43% NO 57%
Should Breathalyzer devices
be in all cars? AUGUST DECEMBER
YES Felix Ortiz, New York state assemblyman Should schools have to meet Should people make New Year’s
NO Richard Obergfell, Libertarian Party the unfunded requirements of resolutions?
Member response YES 49% NO 51% No Child Left Behind? YES Stephen M. Shapiro, author
YES Margaret Spellings, NO Laura Berman Fortgang, author
APRIL U.S. Secretary of Education Member response YES 63% NO 37%
Should daylight-saving time NO Reg Weaver,
be eliminated? National Education Association December’s Debate:
YES Vic Kohring, Alaska state representative Member response YES 65% NO 35% New Year’s resolutions
NO Mark Baxter,
director of Maguire Energy Institute SEPTEMBER
Member response YES 67% NO 33% Should journalists be required to
identify confidential sources?
MAY YES Theodore L. Glasser,
Is a national ID card necessary? professor of journalism
YES Robert Siciliano, author NO Irwin Gratz, YOU CAN reach us with your Debate comments and suggested questions at: P.O. Box 34088,
NO Ron Paul, Texas congressman Society of Professional Journalists Seattle, WA 98124-1088; by fax at (425) 313-6718;
Member response YES 40% NO 60% Member response YES 50% NO 50% or by e-mail at
debate@costco.com.
